About Ruff Justice

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Ruff Justice is a 501c3 nonprofit founded by children’s author Dev Petty and her husband Christopher, longtime Berkeley residents and parents to rescue dogs Hank and Martha. After spending time pledging for adoptable dogs, they saw how confusing the shelter system can be and how many people outside the rescue world want to help but don’t know where to start. Ruff Justice was created to bridge that gap.

 

Every day in California, family pets are surrendered to overcrowded public shelters. Many come from homes facing unstable housing, financial strain, or other life changes. These are not strays. They are dogs who have lived with families, learned routines, and trusted people. Once surrendered, they often enter stressful, crowded shelters where space is limited and outcomes can be grim.

 

We want to help rewrite that story.

 

Ruff Justice works to reduce surrenders by offering support to families. Sometimes a bag of food, a training session, or help with a vet bill can keep a dog in the home they know. We also provide mini-grants for community members who want to take action where they live, whether that means hosting a microchip event, creating outreach materials, organizing a supply drive, or building a local foster circle.

 

For dogs already surrendered, we pledge funds to help get them rescued quickly, before shelter stress takes its toll.

 

We are also working to make this crisis more visible. Through social media, partnerships with community groups, outreach materials in multiple languages, and public education, we hope to bring more people into this work alongside the rescue community.

 

Ruff Justice is:

 

• Focused on California’s surrendered, adoptable dogs

• Preventing surrenders through support and outreach

• Welcoming new people into animal advocacy

• Encouraging community-based solutions

 

 

These dogs have lost their homes. Together, we can offer a path forward and a second chance.

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Donate HERE